APRinbox

January 2006

Monthly publication of World Scout Bureau

Asia Pacific Regional Office, Manila, Philippines

Email: publications@worldnet.scout.org

WHAT’S NEW Asia Pacific Jamboree gathers around 10,000 Scouts from 37 countries	Days before the Jamboree, Had Yao’s coastline was all breeze and quiet. With the arrival of around 10,000 Scouts, a village of tents emerged with a display of camp gates and banners representing a diversity of people from 37 countries. The 25^th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in Sattahip, Thailand, began in a ceremonial way with the patronage of the Kingdom of Thailand graced with the presence of HRH Princess Chulaborn. From the 28^th of December to the 3^rd of January, there was a constant flow of movements, ranging from educational modules on land and sea, the learning of life skills, the solemn inter-religious rites, and the early night sub-camp festivities. The countdown on New Year’s eve was a moment of life’s celebration, and for Scouts, it’s a dynamic cycle of an ending and a beginning of the region’s 50 years. The participation of regional and world Scouting leaders puts the message across that Scouting is global. Indeed the Jamboree is an event that represents a fraction of the world’s 28 million Scouts. When all is done, it is time to do what Scouts must know by heart “when you break up your camp there are two things you should leave behind you: 1) nothing and 2) your thanks” (Baden-Powell). Indeed, Regional Scout Committee Chairman Eric Khoo on behalf of the Regional Committee and the APR team sends his thanks to all who made the Jamboree an opportunity of goodwill and a positive experience, especially the Kingdom of Thailand, its government and national leaders, the National Scout Organization of Thailand and Host Organizing Committee, contingent leaders, International Service Teams, troop leaders, world and regional leaders, Thai people, and the Scouts themselves. So long…till we meet again in 2009 at the 26^th Asia Pacific Regional Scout Jamboree in the Philippines. 0
Seminar on understanding constitutional issues and fee system	To bridge understanding among members of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM), around 70 key Scout officials from 19 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region joined the discussions of a day-long seminar on 30 December at the Jamboree campsite. The purpose of the seminar was to understand WOSM constitutional issues and the new fee system. Regional Chairman Eric Khoo and Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed organized the seminar. They stressed on taking a united effort to strengthen the local, regional and global goals of Scouting. At the discussion, World Scout Committee chairman Herman Hui and RSC Member Tan Cheng Kiong explained constitutional issues governing member organizations of WOSM. “We are servant leaders of the movement,” said Secretary-General Eduardo Missoni. “The sense of the movement can only be seen if it goes with the mission of Scouting”, he added. Deputy Secretary General Luc Panissod explained in-depth the new fees as adopted by the World Scout Conference in Tunisia, vis-à-vis the constitutional obligation of WOSM members. Participants spoke to affirm their resolve of working and acting as one region, and on making a stand on common principles. 0
Vietnamese Scout Leaders choose to take the Road of Peace	After Scouting in Vietnam was disrupted by war in the 70’s, Scouts continue to keep the flame and not the ashes within Vietnam and in other parts of the world. In recent years, there were two parallel Vietnamese Scout groups in Vietnam. On the occasion of the 25^th APR Scout Jamboree, the two groups agreed to meet formally and work together to revive Scouting in their country. This agreement was made at the meeting held on 1 January in the presence of the World Scout Committee member Habibul Alam, Chairman Eric Khoo, Vice Chairman Zainal Abidin and Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed. The two Scout groups are the Vietnam Scout National Council and the Vietnam Scouts. After identifying current possibilities and the determination to merge their strengths, they formulated and signed an eight-point agreement. One of the points is to convene joint meetings and draft a national Scout constitution and by-laws based on WOSM principles. The signing was a gesture of unity and a touching moment for both groups. They ended the meeting with a Vietnamese song, which they sung together. Translated, it says, “We have only one way, one way to the truth, the truth is the peace, the peace means living in nature.” 0
Tsunami Scouts Pakistan Scouts	A year after the powerful tsunami struck coastal areas along the Indian Ocean, a group of 136 young people called “Tsunami Scouts” participated in the 25^th APR Scout Jamboree. These young people come from the most affected provinces in Thailand. They were joined by another group of eight Scouts from Pakistan whose communities were destroyed by the October earthquake. On separate occasions during the Jamboree, a minute of silence was dedicated to tsunami victims. “The Jamboree makes a great difference to the young people, a time to forget the pain of loss even for ten days,” said WSC member Habibul Alam. He cited the graciousness of people who brought the young people to the Jamboree while invoking Kahlil Gribran’s famous words on children, “..your children are not your children, they are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself..”. Tsunami Scouts, almost in a chorus said “we like the Jamboree. We are very happy here. Given the chance, we want to come again.” Most of them lost their parents, brothers, sisters or friends. Camp Chief Sutham Phanthusak thanked the sponsors of Tsunami Scouts particularly the WOSM Tsunami Scout Aid Fund, World Scout Foundation Thailand Chapter, Scout Association of Japan, Scouts Australia and Ireland Scouts. Lady Uraiwan Sirinubongs of the National Scout Organization of Thailand sponsored the Pakistani Scouts. 0
ROVERING TO SUCCESS launched “Two steps to happiness are taking life as a game and giving out Love.” - Lord Baden Powell, Rovering to Success	Rovering to Success was launched on New Year’s eve at the grand arena of the 25th APR Scout Jamboree. Camp Chief Sutham Phanthusak won the bid for the book’s first copy worth US$1,000. This amount goes to the Asia Pacific Regional Scout Foundation. Taking the book’s rich wisdom and practical views of life, the World Scout Bureau/Asia-Pacific Region reproduced the book to commemorate the work of the Founder, Lord Baden-Powell, coinciding with the celebrations of Golden Jubilee of the Asia-Pacific Region in 2006 and the World Scouting centenary in 2007, and to give emphasis on a very important section in the Scouting programme, which is Rovering. On the same occasion, the commemorative badge of the 50th anniversary logo was auctioned for US$600 to Jamboree Assistant Camp Chief Jan Olav Aamlid. 0
Regional Scout Leaders meet at Jamboree site Regional Scout Committee 2006-2007 Task Force APR Scouting Profile Sub-Committee APR Youth Programme Sub-Committee	The Regional Scout Committee met on 29 December at the Jamboree APR office to review preparations for the 21^st APR Scout Conference in Japan in 2007, the APR Leaders Summit agenda in 2006 and follow-up on the resolutions of the last World Scout Conference in Tunisia. A joint meeting of the APR 2006-2007 Task Force and Scouting Profile Sub-Committee discussed the launch of APR Golden Jubilee Year and the commemorative issue of Rovering to Success. A 2006-2007 package describing activities to take place 2006 was distributed. Chairman Ghazanfar Mashkoor presided the meeting. Chairman Dr Mukhyuddin led a separate meeting of the Scouting Profile sub-committee for a review of the upcoming Marketing Workshop in March, golden anniversary and other events for 2006. Chairman Mari Nakano had an informal meeting with Youth Programme Sub-Committee members present at the Jamboree. 0
Scouts in Timor Leste hold first General Meeting and endorse Constitution and By-Laws First batch of Unit Leaders trained in Timor Leste	For many years, there were two Scout groups in Timor Leste: 1) Corpo Dos Escuteiros Catolico and 2) Timor Leste Scouting. And then there was only one - the unified national Scout Organization in Timor Leste officially known as Uniao Nacional Dos Escuteiros De Timor Leste (UNE-TL). UNE-TL was officially formed on 2 December 2005 during the first National Scout Assembly in Dili. The assembly consisted of 121 representatives from the two former groups. At the inauguration, Vice-Minister of Justice Dr Jose Manuel, representing the Prime Minister, said he was glad to witness the historic moment of birth of UNE-TL. He stressed that, on behalf of government, he would always support Scouting, and appreciate UNICEF as a partner for the betterment of the children and young people in Timor Leste. WOSM and UNICEF inked a Memorandum of Understanding citing the support of UNICEF to Scouting that includes partial funding of the assembly and the First Basic Unit Leader Training Course for UNE-TL. Regional Director Abdullah Rasheed and Regional Consultant Anthony Thng with Martin Thomas (Australia), Nelson Antonio (Portugal) invested over 15 hours with UNE-TL constitutional task force for a thorough review of every provision in the draft constitution and by-laws, which finally, was endorsed on 3^rd December by the General Assembly. 0 On 3 December, an international team of leader trainers from Australia, Portugal and Thian Hiong Boon of APR office, organized an 8-day Basic Training Course for Unit Leaders of UNE-TL, from 3-10 December, for 39 participants from all over Timor Leste. In addition to sessions on Scouting, Mr Antonio Gomes from UNICEF delivered inputs on “A Child’s Rights-Health, Education, Equality & Protection”, based on the Children’s Rights Convention. There was a rekindling of interest in the basic elements of Scouting, using Bahasa Melayu, Portuguese and English to overcome the language differences. 0
Dr Eduardo Missoni visits Singapore and Indonesia	After Thailand, WOSM Secretary General Eduardo Missoni stops over in Singapore for a call on Singapore Scout Association’s Chief Scout and President. Likewise, he met key officials of the association and a visit to Singapore’s Scout landmark, the Sarimbun Scout Camp. Missoni is visiting Indonesia for five days primarily to see the community development camp built by Scouts in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. A total of 37 rehabilitation projects for tsunami victims were funded from the WOSM Tsunami Scout Fund. He is also scheduled to visit the Bumi Perkemahan Kiarapayung (Scouts Camping Ground) in Jatinangor, West Java, where Gerakan Pramuka will hold its National Jamboree in July 2006. 0
Regional Awards for outstanding Services	While the 25^th APR Scout Jamboree was dominantly young people, it was also a conspicuous time to recognize the work of people serving them. At the Jamboree pre-opening, Scout leaders namely Katsura Kuno (Japan) and Anthony Thng (Singapore) were given the APR Award for Distinguished Service while Pornsawat Lertvitayavivat (Thailand) and S Prassanna Shrivastava (APR office) received the Chairman’s Award. Each of the awardees rendered distinct and outstanding services to Scouting for many years. 0
Time to say “Thank You and Goodbye”	In our midst are personalities who have chosen a noble career: Scouting. Three of them are now saying goodbye – not from Scouting - but from professional service. Mr Fawzi Farghali, Regional Director of Arab Office, is retiring after serving the movement since 1976. Everyone who knew Fawzi Farghali is invited to send a message to him as a tribute to his contributions to Scouting. Please send your message to m_shahin@arabscout.org. Winston Adams, Director of Capetown Operations Centre, is known internationally for his roles at the 1999 Durban World Scout Conference and the 2003 World Scout Jamboree. He served for 38 years. Now he conveys his thanks for the kindness of people he worked with. Yoshiro Noda of the Scout Association of Japan, known for being the International Relations Director for many years, left the association on 31 December 2005. He leaves his thanks to colleagues and friends who supported his work in the development of international Scouting in Japan. 0
WHAT’S ON-GOING January 2006	APR Sub-Regional Workshop on Resources Development and Management The workshop is on 21-25 January at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in Colombo. It invites key volunteer and professional Scout leaders involved in financial management and resource mobilization at national level, and who are keen on enriching and sharing their knowledge/skills in these areas as well as share best practices and success stories of their NSOs. 0 National Strategic Planning Workshop Through this workshop, Bangladesh Scouts will draft a long-range strategic plan from 28 January to 1 February. It is expected that key leaders will draw a strategic plan for an effective implementation of Scouting growth in Bangladesh. 0
WHAT’S UPCOMING February 2006	2006 International Scouts Event Civilization Recognition and Culture Exchange This will happen on 3-11 February in Jobail East Province of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabian Airlines sponsors the ticket of participating Scouts endorsed by their NSOs. Countries to be represented are Pakistan, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Singapore. 46^th APR Basic Management Course Designed for full-time Scout executives, the course will take place at the Vajiravudh Scout Camp, Chonburi Province in Thailand on 5-19 February. To date, participants are coming from Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and possibly Vietnam. APR Sub-Regional Workshop on Risk Management Bhutan will host this workshop on 6-10 February in Punakha, about 125 km from Paro International Airport. The purpose is to create awareness and ensure that the organization gives importance to managing risks and adopts strategies, procedures and control towards this. 4^th SAF Scouts Friendship Camp it’s Sri Lanka’s turn to host hundreds of Scouts from neighboring SAARC associations, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan, on 21-26 February. The camp is a yearly event rotating around the SAARC area under the joint cooperation of South Asia Foundation (SAF) and WOSM Asia Pacific Region. Chief Commissioners of SAARC NSOs will have their annual gathering during the camp. Mr Madanjeet of SAF is sponsoring the travel cost of over 100 Scouts to the camp with US$40,000. 0
BE PREPARED March 2006 April 2006	• Regional Scout Committee meeting in Taiwan on 11-12 March • Training Courses for Unit Leaders in Tuvalu on 4-10 March and in Honiara, Solomon Islands on 14-20 March • APR Marketing Workshop for Growth in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 16-20 March • APR Gathering of National Training Commissioners on 8-9 April in Bangladesh, followed by APR Training System Development Workshop on 10-13 April • International Seminar on Programme Development (Rover Section) in Maldives on 17-20 April
	APRinbox is the monthly e-newsletter of World Scout Bureau/Asia Pacific Region circulated to Scouts and adult leaders in the global community of the Scout Movement. To celebrate the golden jubilee of Scouting in the region, APRinbox uses a new format to allow more coverage of projects and events. APRinbox is edited and designed by Ms Luz Taray and Ms Theresa Quine of the Asia Pacific Regional Office in Manila, Philippines. Email:publications@worldnet.scout.org